Mall roof collapse injures at least 4 in N. Ontario

Part of the roof of a shopping mall in Elliot Lake, Ont., has collapsed, injuring at least four people and apparently sending cars crashing to a concourse below.
East Algoma OPP said they received an emergency call at 2:19 p.m. ET on Saturday. The incident occurred at the Algo Centre Mall in Elliot Lake, which is about 150 kilometres west of Sudbury.

Re: Mall roof collapse injures at least 4 in N. Ontario

That place scared me the first time I saw it - about 7 years ago - a huge parking lot with one structure the size of a Photohut booth (the escalator and stairs down into the mall)

Nuggler

#4

Re: Mall roof collapse injures at least 4 in N. Ontario

Jun 23rd, 2012

Glad no one was killed or even seriously injured.

They don't get a lot of excitement there anymore, so they used the opportunity to declare a state of emergency.

One of my favourite Northern towns.

Probably not the best place in the world to put parking.

Guess some firm will be hiring a new engineer.

bill barilko

+1

#5

Re: Mall roof collapse injures at least 4 in N. Ontario

Jun 23rd, 2012

Lots of retirees in EL-my Aunt & Uncle among them hope they're OK.

lone wolf

-1

#6

Re: Mall roof collapse injures at least 4 in N. Ontario

Jun 23rd, 2012

Local news couldn't say anything of casualties. Witnesses say around 30 injuries and people missing. Give 'em a call

Nuggler

#7

Re: Mall roof collapse injures at least 4 in N. Ontario

Jun 24th, 2012

Perhaps I spake to soon. Blame CBC. and Sympatico

SLM

#8

Re: Mall roof collapse injures at least 4 in N. Ontario

Jun 24th, 2012

Wow! I just called my mom to let her know, we had some family up there a few years back and family all over the area. She hadn't heard about it but is going to make some calls. What a horrible situation!

My aunt & uncle, who are both in their 70s and do still live there (I was mistaken earlier, I had thought they moved), were fortunately not there at the time but locally it's been reported that there are still people missing.

Re: Mall roof collapse injures at least 4 in N. Ontario

Re: Mall roof collapse injures at least 4 in N. Ontario

Jun 26th, 2012

Mall rescue called off, then ordered back on
Province intervenes in search for survivors

...Earlier in the day, personal vigils gave way to outraged protests after officials announced they were halting efforts to rescue possible survivors. Dozens of angry community members gathered outside city hall to express their disgust that officials had walked away from a rescue effort they deemed too dangerous. "Rescue missions never end, save our families, save our friends," chanted the protesters, adding efforts to recover survivors had gone on for days in the wake of high-profile tragedies.
Residents of the former mining hub said abandoning trapped comrades would be unthinkable in miners' culture, speculating volunteer mineworkers should take up the rescue themselves....Mall rescue called off, then ordered back on - Winnipeg Free Press

This makes me so angry, even I feel like lynching someone and I have no personal involvement in this tragedy. I can only imagine how angry friends and family must feel for this obscenely gross incompetence. I can understand why the rescue effort might need to regroup or call in additional resources due to extreme danger... but to call off a rescue and knowing that at least one person was alive under the rubble.... That's... I'm not sure what words can adequately describe the anger I feel.

taxslave

+2 / -1

#11

Re: Mall roof collapse injures at least 4 in N. Ontario

Jun 26th, 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by earth_as_one

Mall rescue called off, then ordered back on
Province intervenes in search for survivors

...Earlier in the day, personal vigils gave way to outraged protests after officials announced they were halting efforts to rescue possible survivors. Dozens of angry community members gathered outside city hall to express their disgust that officials had walked away from a rescue effort they deemed too dangerous. "Rescue missions never end, save our families, save our friends," chanted the protesters, adding efforts to recover survivors had gone on for days in the wake of high-profile tragedies.
Residents of the former mining hub said abandoning trapped comrades would be unthinkable in miners' culture, speculating volunteer mineworkers should take up the rescue themselves....Mall rescue called off, then ordered back on - Winnipeg Free Press

This makes me so angry, even I feel like lynching someone and I have no personal involvement in this tragedy. I can only imagine how angry friends and family must feel for this obscenely gross incompetence. I can understand why the rescue effort might need to regroup or call in additional resources due to extreme danger... but to call off a rescue and knowing that at least one person was alive under the rubble.... That's... I'm not sure what words can adequately describe the anger I feel.

You are as stupid as the spectators there. The first rule of rescuing is don't become another victim. It is highly unlikely in a community that size that there is either the equipment or technical expertise to conduct a rescue in a SAFE manner.

Durry

+1 / -4

#12

Re: Mall roof collapse injures at least 4 in N. Ontario

Jun 26th, 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by earth_as_one

obscenely gross incompetence. I can understand why the rescue effort might need to regroup or call in additional resources due to extreme danger... but to call off a rescue and knowing that at least one person was alive under the rubble.... That's... I'm not sure what words can adequately describe the anger I feel.

Definitely the high of gross incompetence!! Stupidity at an all time high!!
You never give up if there is sign of life.

The resurers probably got tired and wanted to go home and watch the CBC!!! Fools !!

taxslave

+2 / -1

#13

Re: Mall roof collapse injures at least 4 in N. Ontario

Jun 26th, 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by Durry

Definitely the high of gross incompetence!! Stupidity at an all time high!!
You never give up if there is sign of life.

The resurers probably got tired and wanted to go home and watch the CBC!!! Fools !!

Like your post.

earth_as_one

+1

#14

Re: Mall roof collapse injures at least 4 in N. Ontario

Jun 26th, 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by taxslave

You are as stupid as the spectators there. The first rule of rescuing is don't become another victim. It is highly unlikely in a community that size that there is either the equipment or technical expertise to conduct a rescue in a SAFE manner.

You mean friends and family who know that someone was alive under the rubble? Is that who you mean by "spectators"?

I doubt I feel as angry as they do, knowing that some was alive under the pile of rubble and they've been abandonned.

If the one rescue team lacks the equipment or expertise to mount a rescue effort, that doesn't mean the rescue effort stops, that means that another team with the people and resources is brought in. There is always a way to mount a rescue. It may be slow or inefficient, but a way always exists. If they have to, they should tear that building apart brick by brick.

Durry

+2 / -3

#15

Re: Mall roof collapse injures at least 4 in N. Ontario

Jun 26th, 2012

The first thing you do in any rescue is to assess the skills and resources you'll need to mount the rescue.
Something was missing here, lack of intellegence ??

TenPenny

+1

#16

Re: Mall roof collapse injures at least 4 in N. Ontario

Jun 26th, 2012

From what I understand, it was the ministry of labour that ordered the rescue halted; what's next, firefighters halted to prevent smoke inhalation? Sure, the building is unsafe....that's why it fell down, and people need to be rescued.

lone wolf

+1 / -1

#17

Re: Mall roof collapse injures at least 4 in N. Ontario

Jun 26th, 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by Durry

The first thing you do in any rescue is to assess the skills and resources you'll need to mount the rescue.
Something was missing here, lack of intellegence ??

Re: Mall roof collapse injures at least 4 in N. Ontario

Jun 26th, 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by TenPenny

From what I understand, it was the ministry of labour that ordered the rescue halted; what's next, firefighters halted to prevent smoke inhalation? Sure, the building is unsafe....that's why it fell down, and people need to be rescued.

An extremely difficult situation, by the same token the risk of having even more people killed can not be taken. I realize if it was my loved one trapped I would probably be prepared to take the risk.

lone wolf

+1 / -1

#19

Re: Mall roof collapse injures at least 4 in N. Ontario

Jun 26th, 2012

It went back into rescue mode last night on orders from the Head Cheese and "How would you like it?..." reasoning - following some heated debate between local rescuers and Provincial bureaucracy.

JLM

#20

Re: Mall roof collapse injures at least 4 in N. Ontario

Jun 26th, 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by lone wolf

It went back into rescue mode last night on orders from the Head Cheese and "How would you like it?..." reasoning - following some heated debate between local rescuers and Provincial bureaucraccy

As long as no rescuer is killed or seriously injured.

Durry

-2

#21

Re: Mall roof collapse injures at least 4 in N. Ontario

Jun 26th, 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by lone wolf

It went back into rescue mode last night on orders from the Head Cheese and "How would you like it?..." reasoning - following some heated debate between local rescuers and Provincial bureaucracy.

Re: Mall roof collapse injures at least 4 in N. Ontario

Jun 26th, 2012

I agree that emergency people have to reduce or eliminate the risk. But there is always a way to mount a rescue effort safely, its just a matter of having the right expertise and equipment. If the current team didn't have the ability, then that's a reason for getting another rescue team, not stopping the rescue effort.

DurkaDurka

+1

#24

Re: Mall roof collapse injures at least 4 in N. Ontario

Jun 26th, 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by earth_as_one

You mean friends and family who know that someone was alive under the rubble? Is that who you mean by "spectators"?

I doubt I feel as angry as they do, knowing that some was alive under the pile of rubble and they've been abandonned.

If the one rescue team lacks the equipment or expertise to mount a rescue effort, that doesn't mean the rescue effort stops, that means that another team with the people and resources is brought in. There is always a way to mount a rescue. It may be slow or inefficient, but a way always exists. If they have to, they should tear that building apart brick by brick.

They brought in the Heavy Urban Search and Rescue from Toronto, which is trained specifically for rescues in building collapse etc. If they state it is unsafe, I would tend to believe them.

Last edited by Ron in Regina; Jun 30th, 2012 at 02:52 PM..Reason: same as above.

earth_as_one

-1

#26

Re: Mall roof collapse injures at least 4 in N. Ontario

Jun 26th, 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by lone wolf

Maybe you better learn to read, Durry
...and not just the label on your beer

Thumbs down, because I dislike name calling. It serves no purpose here on this forum. Please don't create a mess for the moderators to clean up. they have lives too.

Last edited by Ron in Regina; Jun 30th, 2012 at 02:53 PM..Reason: Sorry but edited the quote. see above posts.

DurkaDurka

+3

#27

Re: Mall roof collapse injures at least 4 in N. Ontario

Jun 26th, 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by Durry

Definitely the high of gross incompetence!! Stupidity at an all time high!!
You never give up if there is sign of life.

The resurers probably got tired and wanted to go home and watch the CBC!!! Fools !!

You're such a moron.

Quote: Originally Posted by Durry

The first thing you do in any rescue is to assess the skills and resources you'll need to mount the rescue.
Something was missing here, lack of intellegence ??

You're in no position to comment on anyone's intelligence.

bill barilko

#28

Re: Mall roof collapse injures at least 4 in N. Ontario

Jun 26th, 2012

Sounds to me like the rescue team is listening to engineers who have little experience with situations like this.

lone wolf

+2 / -1

#29

Re: Mall roof collapse injures at least 4 in N. Ontario

Jun 26th, 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by earth_as_one

Thumbs down, because I dislike name calling. It serves no purpose here on this forum. Please don't create a mess for the moderators to clean up. they have lives too.

No ... thumbs down for the consistency of it

...and please spare me the lecture on creating messes or I might feel compelled to refer to you with an appropriate adjective

Last edited by lone wolf; Jun 26th, 2012 at 10:29 AM..

TenPenny

+3

#30

Re: Mall roof collapse injures at least 4 in N. Ontario

Jun 26th, 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by JLM

As long as no rescuer is killed or seriously injured.

I think the rescue team, being trained in urban rescue, is a better judge of than than the ministry of labour, trained in following regulations. That was my previous point - the ministry should have zero authority in this scenario.